【Are you willing, junior sister】【I am willing】

At the same time, the ethereal voice of the Heavenly Dao echoed once more in Su Ji's ears.

[The Heavenly Dao acknowledges it: Cultivator Su Ji has slain a Nascent Soul enemy against all odds.]

[Bestowed upon him is a wisp of ‘Heavenly Dao Fortune,’ and this deed shall be proclaimed to the world!]

As the words faded, Su Ji immediately sensed a golden thread, distinct from spiritual energy, coiling like a dragon within his dantian—profound and enigmatic.

What is this?

Did I just unlock an achievement after defeating a boss?

But there was more.

A follow-up inquiry soon followed.

[Will you reveal your true name?]

This must correspond to the proclamation to the world.

Su Ji pondered briefly.

Showing off might feel exhilarating,

but the inheritance of a Nascent Soul cultivator would drive many decrepit Golden Core elders to madness.

Especially those who had clung to life for five centuries, teetering on the brink of their lifespan’s end.

Even if they knew he possessed the means to slay a Nascent Soul, they might still recklessly gamble their lives.

Armed with their sect’s sacred artifacts, burning their remaining vitality for one last shot at survival.

Truly, the wise keep their wealth hidden.

There would be plenty of chances to show off later.

"No."

[Please choose an alias.]

"Then let’s go with Su Daji."

Hmm.

That definitely doesn’t sound like a male cultivator’s name.

Even if others racked their brains, they’d never connect it to him.

Thus,

the laws of heaven and earth trembled for three breaths.

Across the entire Great Xia Kingdom,

every cultivator at the Qi Refining stage or above heard a grand, otherworldly voice resonate in their ears.

[The Heavenly Dao acknowledges it: Cultivator ‘Su Daji’ has slain a Nascent Soul enemy against all odds.]

[Bestowed upon him is a wisp of ‘Heavenly Dao Fortune.’]

[The path of immortality is long; to have such a blazing prodigy is a blessing!]

[May all strive diligently and emulate this example.]

For a moment,

countless cultivators paused their activities in unison.

From the clamor of marketplaces to the silent meditation in sects, to the trials in the wilderness—everyone gazed skyward in stunned bewilderment.

Their expressions of shock were identical.

A Nascent Soul?

Great Xia still has a Nascent Soul cultivator?

And someone killed them against the odds?

Why would the words be arranged like this?

And that name…

Isn’t it a bit…

Could this be the legendary "skillful and well-endowed"?

Meanwhile, near Mount Xuanhuang, a group of people were far more shaken than the rest.

Over a dozen Golden Core elders, having rushed here at full speed upon hearing the news, hovered mid-air simultaneously.

The news of a Nascent Soul inheritance was enough to lure these old monsters out of their "coffins" for one last hurrah.

But when they arrived near Mount Xuanhuang, they were met with an entirely different sight.

In their vision, the floating Nascent Soul cave abode crumbled violently amid tremors.

Amid the billowing dust lingered a destructive aura that sent chills down their spines.

Then came the Heavenly Dao’s proclamation in their ears.

Every listener was stunned.

A sage-like elder with an immortal’s demeanor frowned gravely. "We’re too late. The inheritance has already been claimed..."

"Not just the inheritance," a voluptuous female cultivator gasped in horror, "but the Nascent Soul master of the cave was slain as well!"

"Su Da… Daji? Who is this? Why have we never heard of them?"

"To slay a Nascent Soul against the odds, their cultivation must be near perfection—likely a long-standing Golden Core Great Perfection expert. There aren’t many who fit the bill..."

These usually aloof Golden Core ancestors now felt a rare flicker of hesitation.

...

At the foot of Mount Xuanhuang,

Su Jiu landed smoothly with Su Ji in her arms, the howling winds finally subsiding.

The moment she released him, the grand voice of the Heavenly Dao resounded in her mind.

Su Jiu’s body froze.

Her fair cheeks, still flushed from their earlier proximity, now twisted into an expression of sheer incredulity.

First came shock, then confusion.

Finally, all emotions coalesced into stunned disbelief.

Slowly, inch by inch, she turned her head.

Her gaze, more complex than ever before, settled on Su Ji beside her.

And Su Ji?

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, chin slightly raised, exuding an air of effortless grace—a man content to let his deeds speak for themselves.

Perfect. Mission accomplished.

By using a woman’s name, he had neatly extricated himself from the ensuing storm.

He could already picture it—the entire Great Xia cultivation world going wild over "Su Daji," the peerless female genius who had appeared out of nowhere.

As for him? He could continue playing the role of an utterly unremarkable Qi Refining nobody.

Yes…

Su Ji was still basking in his own "brilliance."

Completely oblivious to the brewing disaster.

Why?

Because the Heavenly Dao’s proclamation hadn’t echoed in his ears.

After all, he’d already received a private notification, hadn’t he?

Satisfied, Su Ji turned his head—

only to meet Su Jiu’s piercingly clear eyes.

The air between them grew deathly still.

Su Jiu’s lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but all that escaped was a whisper so faint it was almost inaudible.

"...Huh?"

She truly had no words to describe what she was feeling.

Shock?

Absurdity?

Or… the urge to laugh?

"Ahem."

Su Ji coughed awkwardly, shattering the suffocating silence.

"What’s wrong, Junior Sister?"

"This is called ‘lying low to bide one’s time.’"

Su Jiu: "......"

She simply stared at him.

Silently.

Su Ji began to squirm under her gaze.

"Junior Sister, why are you looking at me like that? We should leave quickly. The commotion earlier was too big—Golden Core experts might come investigating."

With that, he made to turn and flee.

"Wait."

Su Jiu’s voice drifted over, soft but firm.

She extended a slender, jade-like hand, offering a pristine white ring.

"This is the storage ring of that woman in white. It should contain valuable treasures. You… take it."

"Consider it… payment for saving me."

"My divine sense is slightly damaged, and my spiritual energy is nearly depleted. I can’t erase its imprint right now."

"Hold onto it first. I’ll find a way to remove the restrictions for you later."

Su Ji accepted the ring and probed it with his divine sense, immediately sensing a resilient barrier.

An idea struck him. Casually, he seized Su Jiu’s soft, slightly cold hand.

Su Jiu instinctively tried to pull back,

but resisted the urge.

Surely Su Ji had something important to say.

He wouldn’t just take advantage of her, right?

Better hear him out first.

"Junior Sister, ‘a man’s wealth is his own ruin.’"

"I can’t use this thing right now anyway."

"Why don’t you hold onto it for me instead?"

As he spoke, he slowly slid the ring onto the ring finger of her left hand.

"Would you do this for me?"

Su Jiu stared at the white ring now adorning her ring finger.

Her head tilted slightly.

She didn’t detect any ulterior motives in Su Ji’s actions.

His reasoning was sound.

Her lips parted softly.

"I will."